Chiraag Ishwar

Motivated by the issue of global climate change, Chiraag’s Natural Resources and Renewable Energy studies have set him on the path to help position New Zealand’s sustainable future.

‘I enjoy mathematical modelling, but I was also interested in the social implications involved within the energy industry and how the electricity system works in New Zealand,’ he says.

Enrolling at UC with an Undergraduate Entrance Scholarship for his high school results, Chiraag started his journey with a bachelor’s degree in Natural Resources Engineering, studying the sustainable use and design of natural energy sources.

‘The culture at UC seemed inclusive and welcoming, as well as being the only university to offer Natural Resources Engineering.

‘I enjoyed the amount of different people I met studying a variety of degrees and from all different walks of life. I stayed at University Hall in my first year and also went to many O-Week events in which I met a bunch of new people whilst having heaps of fun.’

One of the highlights from his undergraduate studies was receiving a UC Summer Research Scholarship, to complete a project testing the power quality of heat pumps with Electric Power Engineering Centre (EPECentre).

‘It was thoroughly rewarding and helped develop my organisation skills in a professional environment.’

‘The Master’s degree involved modelling of renewable energy systems, analysing energy transitions and energy poverty from in New Zealand and around the world. The courses that I enjoyed the most were wind modelling, energy systems modelling, and completing my dissertation which was an assessment of the potential for offshore wind energy in New Zealand.’

Now graduated his master’s, Chiraag looks forward to contributing to sustainable energy policies in his future career.

‘I want to be an advisor on energy issues to government, through an energy consultancy or through a government agency,’ he says.